If a watercolor painting of fruits, quaint buildings, cute animals or people fishing would look good on your wall, Seasons by the Lake was the place to be last Friday.

The Watercolor Guild of Trigg, Lyon and Caldwell Counties held their annual exhibit outside the gift shop on Highway 68/80 on May 9, selling work by their members for quite reasonable prices, with most of the paintings ranging between $20 and $40. Jinna Bower, the president of the guild, said that about 80 paintings were on sale that day from the eight members. She said it was the first time they had had the show outdoors, and although it was a bit windy and slightly cloudy, it turned out to be pretty nice. Many of the paintings were hung on a large display panel, for which they had raised money in the past.

Bower said that the group was formed in April 2005 after she started taking watercolor classes at Murray State University. She got a few like-minded people together to teach them what she knew. Before long, their knowledge seemed pretty even, so she figured she would stop trying to teach and simply paint with the rest of them. From time to time, they have invited outside artists to come teach workshops, she said.

“Our goal is to learn as much as possible,” she said.

Bower said many of the members had come a long way in their knowledge of watercolor technique. She cited member Maria Bruzewski, who she said used to paint using mostly acrylics and since become the most prolific among them.

“Jinna just converted me, slowly but surely, after much grumbling,” Bruzewski said laughing.

Bower said the guild was happy to have been invited by Seasons by the Lake owner Janene Welker to have their show on the shop’s grounds. The Helping Hands charity organization was invited to raise money by having a concession stand there.